Page 26 of The Good Char
I frowned and slapped his arm with the back of my hand.I was trying to listen to what she had to say!Mr.Dzik growled and shoved me toward her as he picked up where I left off with orders.
Her voice cracked while she continued to force out words through her sobs, hiccuping now and again.“Cindy went missing a while ago.She never came home,” she finally got out, and my heart stopped.“She was in the truck with some guys and the truck has disappeared.The last person who saw them said they had all been drinking.”
As she began to break down, my heart stuttered.My chest ached like a physical wound—a hole ripped from my chest.My eyes burned and suddenly my face was as wet as hers.
People who were close enough to hear us began to console her when my world started spinning.My mind replayed the last words we spoke to each other and now…I would never get to see her again.
I broke.
Everything became a haze.
I wasn’t sure what happened but I came back to myself, sitting on a fold out chair at the back of The Good Char, my hat still on my head.My face was covered in tears and snot covered the back of my hands as I wiped my nose again, sniffling silently in my little corner.
Mr.Dzik was spraying disinfectant on the counter and mumbling to himself.I was at a loss at what occurred between hearing the news and me sitting here.Nicole’s voice floated back to my head like it was on constant rewind and replay on my boombox.The memory slammed into me like a slap in the face.
Cindy was missing.
I bursted out with a new fresh set of hot tears.
“Are you cryingagain?”Mr.Dzik growled.“You already scared off customers, dripped snot on several corndogs for the past thirty minutes instead of working.”
“I'm sorry,” I sobbed louder.“It's-it’s just, Cindy is gone.I may never see her again!And the last thing we did was fight!”I was feeling all kinds of emotions when I began to scream.
“Hey, calm down.”Mr.Dzik brought his hands up, palms out in a placating manner with a grimace on his face.“You’re stirring up the pigeons.I don’t want them to fly in here and crap on my stuff.Are you listening to me?Breathe.”
How was that even possible?We were inside a food court.He was so silly and knew exactly what to say to make me feel better.I stifled a laugh through my tears and he tilted his head.
Mr.Dzik was such a funny man.I got up from my seat, walked over and spontaneously wrapped my arms around him before breaking down again.I couldn’t help it.He always stood by me like a strong pillar.I needed that strength now more than ever.
He awkwardly patted my shoulder but I couldn't hold it back anymore.I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry.I didn’t know what I wanted.
Yes, I do.I want Cindy back.
“If you’re done leaking from your face, I need you to close shop,” he said in a softer tone, his fingers still patting my back.
I gave him another squeeze and exhaled.He smelled nice.The hug made me feel better even though my heart still hurt.
“Okay,” I replied softly, sniffling.
Mr.Dzik handed me a towel and pretended to look toward the food court.I smiled brightly at his thoughtfulness and blew snot into it.It was embarrassing that he had to see that, but it was better than not being able to breathe.
“Thank you, Mr.Dzik.”
“Dzik,” he said, clearing his throat gruffly.“Get back to work.”
I threw away the towel and washed my hands to the sound of Mr.Dzik spraying disinfectant once more.We silently closed shop together and even with keeping my hands busy, my mind was still overwhelmed.I slowly walked to my bicycle and before I could reach for my helmet, someone took it from my hands from behind.
I turned to see Mr.Dzik in full concentration as his large fingers fiddled with the latch… right before he strapped it on my head.
We didn’t say a word as my eyes began to mist again, staring at his strong, stubbled set jawline.When the helmet was secure, he lifted me up as if I weighed as much as a feather and placed me on my bicycle before turning and walking back to Hellscape Mall.
Chapter17
MR.DZIK
She’ssmearing snot on my apron.I needed to remove her from me.I had never been hugged by a human before except for when they wanted to jump and attack me in the underworld, thinking it would stop the tortures.
This little human was visibly upset.She held me firmly in her deathly grasp with a strength I didn’t know she could possess.I did the only thing I could to pacify the situation so she would release her grip on me—I mimicked her and patted her with as little contact as I could.
